Seat and seat cover actuating mechanism for toilets



J. A. OYA

Sept. 1, 1931.

SEAT AND SEAT COVER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR TOILETS Filed July 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOHN A. Om

A TTORNE YS.

Sept. 1, 1931. J, A, OYA 1,821,027

SEAT AND SEAT COVER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR TOILETS Filed July 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7- INVENTOR.

JOHN f Om ATTORNEYS.

J. A. OYA

Sept. 1, 1931.

SEAT AND SEAT COVER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR TOILETS Filed July 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. /& JOHN A. 0m

W8 A TTORNE YS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1931- YUNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE Joint A. mm, or HONOLULU, mana rroav or HAWAII sun in sun covna ac'run'rme mncnemsm FOB TOILETS Application. filed July 1,

such parts of the toilet when not in a there :oughly clean and sanitary condition.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a mechanism of the above described character which is operated by hydraulic 1 pressure so that the source'of water supply for flushing the toilet can be utilized to provide the necessary power.

I will describe only one form of seat and seat cover actuating mechanism for toilets embodying my invention, and will then point threaded upon the upper end of the standout the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing inside elevation and'partly in section, one form of actuating mechanism embodying my invention, applied to a toilet.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the'line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view showing in front elevation and partly in section, the mechanism applied to the toilet as inFigure 1.

Figure 4 "is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

- Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line '55 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of a control valve embodied, in my invention. the section being taken on the line 66 of Figure 1 and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figures 7, 8, and 9 are horizontal sectional views taken on the line 77 of Figure 6 and illustrating different positions of the valve.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 6 and looking in the direction ofthe'arrows.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of the valve, taken on the line 1111 of Figure 1930. Serial No. 465,178.

6 ad looking in the direction of the arrows; an Figure 12 is a view showing in perspective two parts of the valve.

Referrin specifically to the drawings in which simi ar reference characters designate similar parts in each of the several views, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a standard S in the form of a length of pipe havin a flange 10 at its lower end adapted to e secured to the 'floor to support the standard in an upright position alongside and to the rear of a toilet T as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The standard extends through a pair of plates 11 and 12 which ro- 5 vide heads for cylinders 13 and 13 in the orm of open ended metal tubes. The plate 11 is provided with a depending collar 1& through which is threaded a set screw 15 for fixedly securing the plate 11' to the standard; and Z0 ard is 'a nut 16 which is tightened against the plate 12 sufiiciently to cause the latter to 00- act with the plate 11 in clamping the cylinders 13 and 13 between the plate on opposite sides of the standard as shown in Figure I 3. The plates 11 and 12 are recessed to receive the'open ends of the cylinders, and are provided with gaskets 17 for insuring a water tight joint between the plates and cylinders.

Working in the cylinders 13 and 13 are I pistons 18 and 18 respectively, provided respectively with rods 19 and 19 extending through openings in the plate 11, receiving suitable stufling boxes for preventing leakage of water from the cylinders around the rods. The lower extremity of the rod 19 is provided with a bifurcated head 21 to which is pivotally connected at 22, one end of a link 23. The other end of the link 23 is pivotally 0 connected to one end of an arm 24 by means of a pin 25 and the other end of the arm is fixedly secured to a rock shaft 26 journaled in a bearing 27 secured to the standard S by a set screw 28, and in bearings 29 and 30 se- 95 cured to the bowl 31 of the toilet T at the rear thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Fixedly secured to the rock shaft 26 between the bearings 29 and 30 are brackets 32' and 33 secured to the toilet seat cover C; and

shown in these figures to an open position so as to expose the seat for use. When the water pressure is relieved from the cylinder 13, the

piston 18 is restored to its upper extreme position so as to close the cover 0, by means of a coil spring 35 connected to the plate 11 and to the pin 25, the spring being placed under 15 tension during the downor power stroke of the piston.

Fixed to and depending from the plate 11 is a guide rod 36 having secured thereto a pair of stop collars 37 and 38 between whlch are interposed coil springs 39 and 40. Interposed between the springs and slidable on the rod 36 is an ear 41 projecting from the head 21 for coaction with the springs in checking and cushioning the movement of the cover C to 0 en and closed positions.

The ower extremity of the piston rod 19 is provided with a bifurcated head 21 to which is pivotally connected one end of a link 23. The other end of the link 23 is pivotally connected to one end of an arm 24' by means of a pin 25; and the other end of the" arm is fixedly secured to a rock shaft 26 j ournaled in the bearing 27 and the bearlngs 29 and 30 to one side of and parallel to the 5 rock'shaft 26 as shown in Figures 1 and 12.

Fixedly secured to the shaft 26' at the outer sides of the bearings 29 and 30 are brackets 42 and 43 secured to the toilet seat C; and it will be evident that when the seat cover C occupies open position and the piston 18 is forced downwardly in its cylinder 13 from the position shown in Figures 1 and 3, by water pressure admitted to P the cylinder through a port 34" in the plate 12, that the shaft 26 will be rocked to swing the seat C upwardly from its position resting on the bowl 31 as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to a vertical position clear of the bowl. When the water pressure is relieved from the cylinder 13*, the piston 18 is restored to its upper extreme position so as to swing the seat .C' downwardly to again rest on the bowl, by means of a coil spring connected to the plate 11 and to the pin 25", this 21 for coactionwith the springs in checking and cushioning the movement of the seat C to its raised and lowered positions.

Actuation of the seat 0 and seat cover C is controlled b a valve designated generally at V and inc uding a valvebody 44 with which the nut 16 is integrally formed. The valve body 44 is provided with a vertically disposed cylindrical chamber 45, the upper end of which is closed by a removable cover plate 46. The bottom wall of the chamber forms a flat'valve' seat 47 provided with a circular series of ports, three in number and designated as 48, 49, and 50 which are. con- .trolled by a rotary valve element E in the form of a shallow inverted cup 51 rotatable in the chamber 45 and having fitted therein to rotate therewith by means of a pin connection 52, a disk 53 of fibre or other suitable material. The disk 53 is pressed firmly against the seat 47 by a coil spring 54 surrounding a stem 55 projecting upwardly and axially from the cup 51 through a stuffing box 57 in the cover plate 46. The stem has secured thereto an operating member in the form of a hand lever 58 the movement. of which is definitely limited to rotate the valve element E from one extreme position to another, by detents 59 and 6'0 projecting from the cover plate 46.

Water from a source of supply under pressure such as that utilized to flush the bowl 31 of the toilet T is supplied to the chamber 45 above the valve element E through a pipe 61 having a valve62 for regulating the pressure of the water. Water from the chamber 45 is free to pass through registering openings 63 and 64 in the cup 51 and disk 53, into an arcuate inlet channel 65 formed in the seat engaging surface of the disk and adapt ed upon predetermined rotational movement port 34, or to register with both the port 48 -and 49 so that in addition, wat f the chamber 45 will be admitted to the cylinder 13 through a pipe 67 connecting the inlet port 49 with the cylinder port 34*.

The seat engaging surface of the disk 53 is provided with an arcuate outlet channel 68 which upon predetermined rotational movement of the valve element E is adapted to connect the ports 48 and 49 with the outlet port 50 so that the water in the cylinders 13 and 13 will be free to discharge therefrom through the respective cylinder ports 34 and 34 into an outlet pipe 69 connecting the port 50 with a suitable drain. In the present instance the pipe 69 is connected to a split clamp 70 surrounding the water inlet pipe 71 for the bowl 31 of the toilet T,

the pipe 71 having an opening 72 with which the outlet pipe 69 communicates as shown in Figure 5.

Any water leaking past the pistons 18 and 18 into the lower portions of the respective cylinders 13 and 13 will be free to discharge therefrom into the inlet pipe 71 to the bowl through branch pipes 73 and 73 connected by a T fitting 74 to a main pipe 75 leading to the clamp 70; the free end of the branch pipes being connected to the plate 11 and communicating with ducts 76 and 7 6 in the plate 11, which open intothe lower ends of the c 'linder as shown in Figure 4.

A casing 77 of any suitable construction encloses the mechanism as illustrated in F igures 1, 2, and 3, and is provided with a slot 78 through which the free end of the hand lever 58 projects for manual operation,

The operation of the mechanism above de scribed is as follows:

. Let it be assumed that the seat C is resting upon the bowl 31 and the seat cover C upon the seat as shown in Figure l, in which position the valve element E and operating handle 58 will occupy the position shown in Figure 7. In this position of the valve element E,-its inlet channel 65 is disconnected from the ports 48 and 49 in the valve seat 47 so that water in the chamber from the sourceof supply, will be prevented from entering the cylinders 13 and 13, so that the seat cover and seat will remain in their respective positions shown in Figure 1.

When it is desired to raise the seat cover C, the hand lever 58 and consequently the valveelement E is partially rotated from the one extreme position shown in Figure 7 to the medial position shown in Figure 8 to cause the inlet channel 65 to register with the port 48, thus permitting water from the chamber 45 to flow therefrom through the ports 63 and 64, channel 65, port 48. pipe 66, cylinder port 34 into the cylinder 13, and thereby force the piston 18 downwardly so as to swing the seat cover C upwardly to a vertical position and expose the seat C for use.

Should it be desired to also raise the seat C from the bowl 31, the hand lever 58 and consequently the valve element E is moved from the medial position shown in Figure 8 to the other extreme position shown in Figure 9 to cause the inlet channel 65 to also register with the inlet port 49 so that water from the chamber 45 will also be permitted to flow therefrom through the ports 63 and '64, inlet channel 65, inlet port 49 pipe 67 and port 34 into the cylinder 13, thus forcing the piston 18 downwardly and thereby swinging the seat C upwardly to a vertical position.

In all positions of the valve element E, its outlet channel 68 communicates with the outlet port in the valve seat 47 and when it is desired to lower the seat C to again rest upon the bowl, the hand lever 58 is reversely a actuated to move the valve element E from the other extreme position shown in Figure 9 to the medial position shown in Figure 8, thus disconnectng the inlet channel from the inlet port 49 and causing the outlet chanml 68 to re ister with the port 49. Under the medial position-shown in Figure 8 to,

the extreme position shown in Figure 7, thus also disconnecting the inlet channel 65 from the inlet port 48, and causing the outlet .channel 68 to register with the port 48 as well as with the port 49. Water previously admitted to the cylinder 13 will now be ejected therefrom by the piston 18 under the action of the spring 35, through the cylinder port 34, pipe 66, port 48, channel 68, port 50, pipe 69 into the inlet pipe 71 of the bowl, thereby lowering the seat cover to its closed position on the seat C.

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that the seat cover or the seat cover and seat can be raised and lowered by a simple manipulation of an operating member, so that the user of the toilet will be relieved of the necessity of stooping to grasp these parts of the toilet and perform the, operations manually, as well as preventing contamination in the event that such parts of'the toilet are not in a thoroughly clean and sanitary state.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of seat and seat cover actuating mechanism for toilets embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a toilet having a seat, a seat cover, means for mounting the seat and seat cover for movement to lowered and raised positions with respect to the bowl of the toilet, fluid operated means for actuating the seat, fluid operated means for actuating the seat cover and means common to the two fluid operated means for controlling the operation of each individually.

2. In combination, a toilet having a seat,

a seat cover, means for mounting the seat a pressure, means for operatively connecting the piston of the other unit to the seat to raise the latter in response to movement of the piston to one extreme position under the action of fluid pressure, means common'to.

lieved from the cyl nder of one unit or the other.

3. The combination as embodied in claim 2 wherein the two means for operatively connecting the pistons of the units to the ',.seat and seat cover each comprise a rock shaft to which the seat or seat cover is secured, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, and a link connecting the arm with the respective piston.

4.'The combination as embodied in claim 2 wherein the last means comprises a spring for each unit operable to restore the respective piston to a position in which the seat or seat cover will be lowered.

5. In combination, a toilet having a seat, means for mounting the seat for movement to lowered and raised positions with respect to the bowl of the toilet, a piston and cylinder unit, means for operatively connecting the piston of the unit to the seat to raise the latter in response to movement of the piston to one extreme position under the action of fluid pressure, manually operable means for controlling the admission of fluid pressure to, and the relief of the fluid pressure from the cylinder of the unit, and means for lowering the seat when the fluid pressure is relieved from the cylinder.

6. The combination as embodied in claim 5 wherein the means for operatively connecting the piston to the seatvcomprises a rock shaft to which the seat is secured, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, and a link connecting the arm with the piston.

7. Actuating mechanism of the character described comprising a shaft to which the seat or seat cover of a toilet is adapted to be secured, means formounting the shaft for rocking movement on the toilet to raise and lower the seat or seat cover with respect to the bowl of the toilet, a piston and cylinder unit, means for operatively connecting the piston of the unit to the rock shaft to rock the latter in one direction or the other in response to movement of the piston to one extreme position or another, and means for controlling the admission of fluid pressure to, and the relief of fluidpressure from the cylinder of the unit.

8. Actuating mechanism of the character described comprising a shaft to which the seat or seat cover of a toilet is adapted to be secured, means for mounting the shaft for rocking movement on the toilet to raise and lower the seat or seat cover with respect to the bowl of the toilet, a piston and cylinder unit, means for operatively connectmgthe piston of the unit to the rock shaft to rock movement of thepiston to one extreme posi- 'the latter in one direction inresponse to for movingv the piston to another extreme position to reversely rock the shaft, when the fluid pressure is relieved from the cylinder. 9. In mechanism of the character described, a valve comprising a body having a chamber provided with an inlet and a valve seat having a air of inlet ports and an outlet port, a va ve element rotatably mounted in the chamber and engagin said seat, the valve element having inlet an outlet channels in its seat engaging surface and a duct connecting the inlet channel with the chamber, so that water admitted to the chamber through its inlet will be free to flow into the inlet channel, and means for rotating the valve element to occupy one position wherein the inlet channel is disconnected from the pair of inlet ports and the outlet channel connects the pair of inlet ports with the outlet port, a secondposition wherein the inlet channel is in communication with one of the pair of inlet ports, and a third position wherein the inlet channel is in'communi- .2:

fixed and to the other of which the seat cover 13 is adapted to be fixed, means for mounting the shafts for rocking movements on the t'oilet to raise and lower the seat and seat cover with respect to the bowl of the toilet, a pair of piston and cylinder units, the cylinders of cylinder through its port, and means for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to, and the relief of the pressure fluid from the cylinders.

11. Actuating mechanism for the seat and seat cover of a toilet comprising a pair of shafts to one of which the seat is adapted to be fixed and to the other of which the seat cover is adapted to be fixed, means for mounting the shafts for rocking movements on the toilet to raise and I lower the seat and seat cover with respect to the bowl of the toilet, a pair of piston and cylinder units, the cylinders of which are provided with ports, means for operatively connecting the piston of one unit with one rock shaft and the piston of the other unit with the other rock shaft, to rock one shaft or .theother and accordingly raise the seat cover or the seat, in response to movement of the respective piston from one extreme position to another under the action offluid pressure admitted to the respective cylinder through its port, means for connecting the ports to a source of fluid supply under pressure or to an outlet to accordingly admit fluid pressure to the cylinders or relieve the fluid-pressure therefrom, and means for moving the pistons to the first mentioned extreme position when the respective cylinder is relieved of fluid pressure by the last means.

JOHN A. OYA. 

